Chinas northeastern Heilongjiang province is experiencing heavy pollution-induced smog with schools forced to suspend classes and the Harbin citys airport shut for air traffic.Other parts in that region have also experienced severe smog, including Tangshan, two hours east of Beijing, and Changchun, the capital of Jilin province which borders Heilongjiang. The air quality index showed levels of 1,000 in some parts of Harbin, where some 11 million people live. A level above 300 is considered hazardous, while the World Health Organisation recommends a daily level of no more than 20. So, what will happen to China if the government does not tackle the problem? And what are the consequences for people and their health in the current crisis? Inside Story, with presenter Jane Dutton, is joined by guests: Andrew Leung, an independent China analyst and economist; Huang Wei, a climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace; and Kurt Straif, the head of monographs at the cancer research unit for the World Health Organisation.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:30:19 +0000